Monitoring events in Balochistan, CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor), China's Belt and Road Initiative and it's economic and strategic implications, Pakistan Military operations and ongoing Baloch struggle.News and Reports are collected from open sources to raise awareness among scholars, researchers and public in general.

Posts

January 26, 2017QUETTA - The port city of Gwadar yesterday received heavy rains raising the level of water by five feet in Ankara Dam which had dried up, suspending supply of water to the residents.According to details, Ankara Dam which is the exclusive source of water supply to the port city withered mainly because of drought.It has been raining in Northern Balochistan for last three days while Gwadar received heavy rains yesterday, which ended a famine-like situation in the port city. The torrential rains had replenished the level of Ankara Dam up to five feet, confirmed the sources of Water and Sanitation Department, adding it would end water scarcity that had been irking the residents for months.The rains received by Gwadar for hours had ended the long drought, noted Additional Deputy Commissioner Gwadar Razzaq Sasoli, adding the storage level of the dam would further rise due to rains in the co…

http://m.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/g-parthasarathy/explaining-chinas-games-in-hambantota-and-gwadar/article9502318.eceUpdated: January 25, 2017 21:18 IST | G ParthasarathyClearly displeased Protestors in Sri Lanka carry a banner saying ‘Peaceful protest against the sale of Hambantota port and land grabbing’ | APConfident of victory in Sri Lanka’s prolonged and bloody ethnic conflict, President Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to develop the port of Hambantota and its neighbourhood, along Sri Lanka’s south-western coast. He was determined to make this region his impregnable political base.Taking note of Rajapaksa’s aversion to India and the western world, China obliged by offering to undertake a number of projects in and around Hambantota. Given the attention India focused on Colombo port, building and taking control of Hambantota, whose economic viability was questionable, was imperative for China. Beijing decided to acquire naval facilities in Hambantota, in the way as it has…

http://www.brecorder.com/market-data/stocks-a-bonds/0/132864/January 26, 2017MUSHTAQGHUMMAN0 CommentsA joint venture of Hub Power Company (Hubco) and a Chinese company on Wednesday announced that they would set up two coal-fired power plants of 1650MW in Hub, (Balochistan) and Thar, Sindh under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Documents relating to Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Implementation Agreement (IA) were signed in Islamabad in the Ministry of Water and Power between China Power Hub Generation Company, Hubco, Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) and Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA).Under the agreements, 1320MW coal-fired power plant will be established in Hub, Balochistan and 330MW in Thar, (Sindh). Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif who was present on the occasion termed these projects a major milestone, adding that Thar which was known as drought hit area would now become the energy capital. He said construction work on 1320MW power pla…

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is journey towards economic regionalization in the globalized world. This will deepen and broaden economic links between Pakistan and China and will surly leave a positive impact on other countries of the region. Through CPEC, a collection of projects of $46 billion, are currently underway in Pakistan.Reportedly, almost 80% of China's oil is currently transported from Strait of Malacca to Shanghai, (distance is almost 16,000 km and takes 2-3 months), with Gwadar becoming operational, the distance would reduce to less than 5,000 km. Besides other projects, if all goes well and on schedule, of the 21agreements on energy- including gas, coal and solar energy- 14 will be able to provide up to 10,400megawatts (MW) of energy by March 2018. In addition to a number of projects, huge transit cargo is also expected to be transported through Pakistan and a number special econo…

http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/372054-Islamabad-Power-goes-off-during-signing-of-electr Last Updated On 25 January,2017 03:30 pmEven the Minister for Water and Power had to face power cut in the meeting.ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – In a ceremony regarding power generation agreement with China in Islamabad today (Wednesday), electricity went off not once but twice, plunging the conference hall into darkness for few minutes.Reportedly, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chinese officials had to wait till restoration of electricity. The minister reviewed agreement papers through mobile’s torch light.TWO COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTSThe agreement was signed between China Power Hub Generation Company, Private Power Infrastructure Board and Central Power Purchasing Agency.As per deal, a coal-fired power plant will generate 1320 megawatts of electricity in Hub whereas 330 megawatts coal-fired power plant will be built in Thar.Speaking to reporters, Minister for Water and Power Kh…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army has proposed a new alternative network along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route for secured flow of the internet traffic as the current framework involve Indian companies posing security risk.According to a report, a senior military official briefed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology on the matter.Director General Special Communications Organisation (SCO) Maj-Gen Amir Azeem Bajwa informed the members that the network which brings internet traffic into Pakistan through submarine cables has been developed by a consortium that has Indian companies either as partners or shareholders, which is a serious security concern.Seeking approval for the establishment of a cross-border optic fiber connectivity network under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the military official pr…

http://dailytimes.com.pk/business/25-Jan-17/450-small-dams-constructed-in-balochistanBy: APP25-Jan-17ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development and Reforms on Wednesday was informed that 450 small dams were constructed in Balochistan for enhancing water storage capacity of the province as well as to avoid the flash floods in the area.The committee met here with Senator Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi was also informed that these small dams were constructed by the indigenous resources of the Balochistan Government. Briefing the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary Balochistan said that an amount of Rs 7.5 billion was spent on the construction of these dams. It was also informed that average 10 million acre feet water was generated through rains out of which 2.5 million acre feet water was conserved, whereas remaining was wasted and causing flash floods in the province. The meeting was further informed that feasibility study for small and medium dams is being conducted …